June 18th

DEWITT– “Small things turn into a big deal.”
So said CCA coach Brent Henry to his crew of Clippers during game one of a varsity doubleheader Thursday, June 13, against the Sabers of DeWitt Central High School at DeWitt. A dropped ball here, a late throw there, all small things that added up to a 4-3 loss.
Unofficially Jacob Klingeman and A.J. Liddell had three hits each with a double for Liddell. Jake Neubauer and Robby Swails had two hits each while Stephen Jensen, Tanner Bandy and Colton Beckler had one hit each. Bandy’s was an RBI double with RBI singles for Jensen and Beckler.

SOLON– Celebrate Fourth of July fireworks over Lake Macbride at dark.
The Fourth of July boat parade will start at the Lake Macbride causeway at 4 p.m. Please come and decorate your boat. Rain date is Saturday, July 6.
Donations toward the fireworks are welcome and can be sent to: Mark Ramsey, 1598 Spartan Cir. NE, Solon, IA 52333.

CEDAR RAPIDS– The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival’s Concert Night at NewBo will be held Saturday, June 29, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The Nadas, a Des Moines based band making a return visit to Cedar Rapids, will begin the concert. Performing at 7 p.m. will be Chicago-based band Simpleton & Cityfolk. The concert is free with a 2013 Freedom Festival button. For more information visit www.FreedomFestival.com or call 319-365-8313.

TIFFIN– Get out and enjoy the first evening of Summer Friday, June 21, from 8 until 9:30 p.m. at Evergreen Landing parking lot at F. W. Kent Park.
The almost-full moon will rise long before the sun sets, so we should enjoy both as we hike on the prairie and around the big lake from Evergreen Landing at Kent Park. The hike is over uneven terrain, so wear sturdy shoes. Long pants and bug spray are strongly recommended.
For more information about this or other sponsored events, please contact the Johnson County Conservation Department office at 319-645-1011.

NORTH LIBERTY– American Legion Post 1976 recognized Memorial Day with a pair of ceremonies Monday, May 27. With the threat of heavy rain, an abbreviated ceremony was held at Penn Meadows Park near the large American flag followed immediately after by a similar event at the historic Ridgewood Cemetery.

TIFFIN– Local hunters may soon be able to expand their territories into Tiffin city limits, if the council’s reading of an ordinance amendment passes one more time.
The Tiffin City Council has passed two readings of an amendment that will allow hunting on private property inside city limits, with distance restrictions that reflect Iowa’s current law.

Volunteers joined in the city’s Centennial Tree Planting event May 18 to assist with planting trees in the city’s new west side park, along with city staff and North Liberty council members, as part of the city’s ongoing centennial celebration. Above, Maxwell Kelly helps the new trees get a good start by manning a watering hose. For more photos and information about the event, see page 24. (photo by Lori Lindner)

NORTH LIBERTY– On Friday, June 14, at 7:34 p.m., the North Liberty Fire Department was dispatched to 405 N. Dubuque St.– Red’s Alehouse– for a small fire. The first arriving unit reported smoke coming from a wall within the structure. All patrons and staff were evacuated safely.
North Liberty fire units were able to quickly extinguish the fire within 12 minutes after arrival. The fire was contained to a wall between the restroom and the kitchen. There was minimal smoke and water damage to the wall.

CORALVILLE– Iowa has had laws in the books for decades dealing with dependent child and dependent adult abuse. However, advocates for the elderly say those laws do not go far enough to protect the state’s senior citizens.
Four state legislators spoke about the issue of elder abuse at a legislative forum held Monday, June 10, in Coralville sponsored by the Johnson County Task Force on Aging.

SOLON– Two of the best teams in Class 4A handed each other the first loss of the season this weekend.
Solon’s Lady Spartans, ranked No. 3, and No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes ruined each other’s perfect seasons at the Elite Eight softball tournament in Urbandale Friday and Saturday.
Solon defeated Dallas Center 7-2 on Friday, and Dallas Center returned the favor Saturday in a 10-5 loss for the Lady Spartans.